Addiction
Challenges That Could Be Improved
One in twenty people will develop an addiction during their lifetime. These individuals experience significant suffering, caught in a vicious cycle.
Initially, the substance or behavior provided pleasure, but it transformed into profound distress. Brain circuits altered by addiction make consumption or the behavior necessary to alleviate the discomfort caused by withdrawal.
This cycle consumes much of a person’s life, compromising their health, safety, and well-being. Addiction disrupts brain networks linked to pleasure and satisfaction, reducing the ability to experience these emotions, even in ordinary activities. Meanwhile, withdrawal amplifies stress, anxiety, and loss of control, making it difficult to pursue life goals and the decisions that lead to them.
The first time they are consumed, substances of abuse act by stimulating the production of neurotransmitters, creating an immediate and pleasant effect. Generally, they increase dopamine production for excitement and satisfaction or endorphins for relaxation.
Over time, consumption reduces the sensitivity of brain receptors, requiring progressively larger doses to achieve the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Meanwhile, changes in receptor sensitivity caused by substance use make it harder to feel excitement, satisfaction, or relaxation in everyday life.
The result is that the more the person consumes, the harder it becomes to feel naturally excited, satisfied, or relaxed. They turn to substances to fill this gap, worsening their condition.
At the same time, withdrawal or “craving” sets in. Each time the substance’s concentration in the body decreases or the time without addictive behavior increases, stress hormones such as ACTH and cortisol rise, activating the brain’s amygdalae and intensifying unpleasant feelings of acute stress.
These sensations of stress and discomfort—withdrawal or craving—drive the person to consume not so much for pleasure, which is diminished, but to alleviate discomfort and suffering.
“It’s as if a nail were stuck in the foot, and instead of removing the nail, the person consumes or engages in harmful addictive behavior to lessen the pain.”
Source: Uhl, G.R. et al. The Neurobiology of Addiction. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 2019, 1451:5–28.
In neurofeedback for addiction, we typically train three neural networks, each linked to a specific function:
- Control: The prefrontal regions are responsible for self-regulation, helping individuals know when to stop.
- Mental Flexibility: This network targets a part of the brain that aids in letting go, calming thought flows, and detaching from intrusive ideas.
- The Anxiety Circuit: The brain’s central regions, often called the “panic button,” manage anxiety. Addiction often compensates for the distress caused by excessive anxiety and stress.
Improved Self-Control
- By strengthening the prefrontal cortex, neurofeedback enhances the ability to resist impulses and make conscious decisions. This helps individuals delay gratification and choose healthier behaviors in challenging situations.
Improved Mental Flexibility
- Neurofeedback helps the brain adapt more easily to new or stressful situations by interrupting automatic patterns associated with addiction. This fosters resilience, creativity, and the exploration of new solutions to address challenges.
Better Emotional Regulation
- By training the brain to achieve calmer and more balanced states, individuals can better manage stress, anxiety, and negative emotions that often trigger or sustain addiction.
In our commitment to providing innovative solutions for managing addiction, we are proud to announce our strategic collaboration with Maison la Bouée. By combining Patrice Beaudoin’s expertise in sobriety coaching with the proven benefits of neurofeedback, we offer an innovative approach that optimizes outcomes, promotes lasting recovery, and reduces relapse rates.
Please note that our services are offered independently. For more information about Patrice Beaudoin’s services, we invite you to visit his website.
